What Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story gets right (and wrong) about the Borden murders
Lizze Borden has fascinated true crime junkies for over 100 years. Now, her story lies in the hands of Ryan Murphy.
Lizzie Borden's name is forever linked to the gruesome axe murders of her parents in 1892, but the truth behind the case is far more complex than the nursery rhyme would suggest. In Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's Netflix series Monster, the story of Lizzie Borden is reimagined, revealing both accurate portrayals and departures from historical fact.
The murders occurred on August 4, 1892, in Fall River, Massachusetts, when Andrew Borden, 45, and his second wife Abby, 38, were found dead in their home. The weapon used was never discovered, but it was evident that an axe or hatchet had been employed. Lizzie Borden, Andrew's 32-year-old daughter, was brought to trial for the murders, though Bridget Sullivan, the Irish maid, was present in the house at the time.
Lizzie claimed she had been in the barn when she discovered her father's body in the living room, then called for Bridget to fetch a doctor. Abby Borden was found in an upstairs guest bedroom, while her body was pronounced dead. Lizzie Borden was later acquitted, though no other suspects were convicted. The trial was extensive, generating over 3,000 pages of testimony, and the case garnered widespread media attention.
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